FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY AND DIGITALISATIONAnother three and a half years as a partner in the Enterprise Europe Network

Being well-connected with international partners, the Steinbeis Europa Zentrum provides advice on innovation, internationalisation, EU proposals and financing, as well as on access to new markets. As a long-standing partner in the Enterprise Europe Network, the world's largest network for internationalisation and technology transfer, we work with over 600 partners from 60 countries to mainly support SMEs in strengthening their competitiveness and innovation potential in Europe. Innovation actors are supported in entering foreign markets, finding business and project partners, participating in European research and innovation programmes and improving innovation management.

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The partnership, which began in 2008, will enter a new round in 2022 until the summer of 2025. In the EU's 2021 call for tenders, the Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, together with the Baden-Württemberg consortium led by Handwerk International Baden-Württemberg, once again submitted a successful proposal.

New challenges

The Enterprise Europe Network contributes to the objectives of the EU's Single Market Programme by improving the competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs in Europe and promoting entrepreneurship. This is to be achieved in particular through the following supporting measures:

• Improving the economic, environmental and social sustainability of SMEs
• Measures for digitalisation and greater resilience to 'shocks'.
• Strengthening innovation and innovation processes
• Facilitating access to the single market and third country markets
• Increased cooperation and potentially integration with local, regional, national and European clusters and industrial ecosystems and global value chains.

The European Commission sees this network as an indispensable and unique "European arm" for SMEs and stakeholders in Europe. As one of the most important regional and national business support systems, it drives support services and comprehensive national and regional policies. It offers clear European added value and provides services that are increasingly appreciated by customers and help them to grow and become more competitive.

Sustainability services for SMEs

In the future, the new network will play a crucial role in supporting all types of SMEs in their transition to more sustainable business models through dedicated sustainability advisors. It will also support the digitalisation of SMEs by helping them to adapt their business processes, use digital technologies and develop new products and services through digital means - all in cooperation with other relevant networks at European level. Most importantly, the new network will help SMEs become more resilient, fully recover and emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis.